I went custom with my most recent frame purchase specifically to avoid all of the internal shenanigans (and also because real CX geo is getting harder and harder to find). I want maintenance to be easy as possible in a bike where aero gains will never come into play.

You think they designed this before anyone broke their cage?

Or at least point out that the customer is looking at a US$300 shop bill to replace the headset bearings.

I agree!!

“The geometry & spec compromises that need to be made… result in a bike that’s a bummer to ride outside of the worst surface conditions.”

This is a joke, right? Plenty of small builders are making seriously great high clearance bikes now. I’ve thrown 45c Schwalbe Marathons on my gravel bike (that clears 700×55) and ridden the entire California coast without thinking “Wow. I’m not riding absolute garbage conditions, this is a real bummer.”

That said, Stinner found a value proposition and a market for a road++ bike that they want a piece of, and more choices are better. Good for them.